Stuart Barnes: World beaters or chumps - which France will turn up?

Ahead of the Six Nations, it is worth remembering how Bernard Laportes men have been torn apart in the past

One week into last November’s autumn series of international rugby, and France looked like the best team in the world. Two weeks and two humiliations later, at the hands of Argentina and New Zealand, that script went floating, like flotsam, down the Seine.

Such is the story of the autocratic reign of Bernard Laporte, coach of France. He has presided over two Grand Slams and a World Cup semi- final, but every time his team seems on the brink of greatness, it folds like a pack of cards.

France are the great enigma of this international age. Their pool of talent is as deep as England’s, the basics of their back play are infinitely superior, but unless some foundations are quickly laid, they will not exploit home advantage in 2007 to lift the World Cup.

France, with a preparation squad of 70-odd players for this year’s Six Nations, make the